I have a 10" F5 setup which is in a very sorry state
I now have started to get it back to its former glory and the first stage will be to have the mirrors recoated then purchase new focuser, spotting scope rings. The tube will have to be stripped a bit of panel beating then powder coated. Finally i will have to tackle the mount, it seems to be in reasonable condition so i will strip down check the bearings and see if the motor is OK.
Hopefully this will not take too long but i have bought the GSO 12" Dob to keep me company
If anyone has suggestions on anything about the rebuild please feel free to tell me as i am a complete novice.
Also as i am in Melbourne any suggestion as to where i can have the mirrors recoated.
Hey Terry, looks like you have some work ahead of you, but enjoyable work.
I recently had my mirror re aluminised, and had to send it to Sydney.
To Astro Optical
P.O. Box 568
Crows Nest 2065
Sydney N.S.W.
It cost about 10.00 dollars packed in it's proper wooden container to post.
The service is reasonably quick and is courier shipped back to you very well packaged.
My eight inch cost about 154.00, including postage costs.
I don't know, if they do diaganols, but presume they do.
Thanks Leon i will contact them and get the easy part started.
I am actually looking forward to do something to get it back to working condition, and having another scope to use will mean i wont have to rush.
Hi Ian when i got it secondhand it had an all timber fork mount and was quite obvious ATM. I bought the mount about 2 years ago with the intention of fixing it but work etc.. time passed you know the rest. Now with some inspiration from some of the projects i see here i want to get on with it
Just a suggestion for the tube. I recently refurbished a small steel tubed scope. The tube was somewhat battered and while a was able to clean the dents up it would never have looked good even with a fresh paint job.
What I did was find some suitable patterned cloth (quilting material), glued it onto the tube and then coated it with 5 coats of estapol. Repainted the endcaps gloss black and it looks great for very little $.
Some of the quilting material patterns avialable would look quite good on a scope tube.
Thanks Ian that is quite a good tip on making the tube look great, you even had a similar colour to what i wanted .
The tube looks pretty uneven and maybe this will be a good alternative to Paint/Powdercoat.
lol Iceman if the rest of the scope is in bad condition the mount is still pretty good so I will keep it at the moment but you are at the top of the list should i ever want to get rid of it
Yep, the little dob was just put together from what I had in the scrap bin. The only things I purchased were the PVC end caps from Reece Plumbing and the cloth from Lincraft. I had the lazy susan bearing in the shed and plenty of scrap timber and paint. It will be great to see Terry's scope progress.
Hey Terry, I have just had a thought, why don't you refurbish the tube first followed by fabricating a dob base, then the GEM. If you use a clamping tube cradle for the dob mount you would be able to swap the OTA between the 2 mounts. This might get you up and running a little quicker if you wanted.
Hey Ian you rekcon you could make on of those for me??? My 10" GSO dob base is ok but no good for motorisation as it is. The Cradle and bearings on your seem more suitable for a drop in bearings and motors solution. A similar approch to this one http://4dw.net/svdgoto/custom.htm.
Thanks for the good ideas Ian, I now have the 12" Dob and so do not have to speed up the work on the Newt. Although i will have to decide on the ring system eventually. I was planning on a set of rotating rings.
Your idea of making a clamp type taking advantage of interchangable mounts is food for thought.
I have already dismantled the Mount and have begun to take of the layers of paint. Aside from buying new bolts, nuts etc, the next step will be to get the parts powder-coated.
Terry, Looks like an old Samson mount from Astro Optical. Designed by Alex Stern back in the late 60's. Aluminising: you have a variety of options
The ASV has it's own aluminising plant which is run through our Instrument Making Section (you have to be a member though to utilize it) we can do up to 12" I think? Then there is Chi Qin Co (that's pronounced Chi Chin) in Campsie NSW (they can do an overcoat for you too). Also Astro Optical offer aluminising.
I would look at modifying your secondary cell. There is too much obstruction by the cell itself and this should be minimised. You would have to make a smaller cell so that the actual mirror edge makes the obstruction. (See MAKE YOUR OWN TELESCOPE by Richard Berry.) Also look at replacing the old focuser as well for a more readily operatable one!
Thanks for the info Roger yes you are correct i have found it is a Sampson Mount. The secondary is as you describe a lot of obstruction, I compared it to the new 12" dob. The focuser is destined for the recycle bin it is totally non-operational. I will invest in a Crayford style (10:1 fine focusing).
I do not have the Richard Berry book but i have the "How to make a Telescope" by Texereau which although published in 1957 still has some good ideas for ATM`s. I will check for the Berry Book.
Now when you come to Aluminising I am a little confused, the mirror needs recoating (aluminising) then the overcoating is a protective layer?
So from your description these are 2 different steps and from Marks input (thanks Mark) it seems that Astro Optical are not the preffered supplier.
Appreciate the helpful comments and suggestions
Well i have made some progress on the scope. a bit of Spit `n polish the mount is now up to speed. Charcoal Grey
Next i will get the motor in good order then make a cover for it.
After that next on the list is the tube cradle and working from Ian`s idea i am designing it to also mount to a Dob base.
